ROBERT Well, thank you for all your help, Mrs. Johnson.
FRANCESCA Francesca.
ROBERT Francesca.
(Francesca nods, as if to say hello and goodbye in the same moment. She gets out of the car, closes the door, then asks:)

FRANCESCA Would you like some iced tea?

INT. KITCHEN - DAY

(Robert fiddles with the kitchen radio, tuning in to the Chicago station. Francesca is making iced tea. Robert sits back down at the kitchen table.)

FRANCESCA Lemon?
ROBERT Sure.

(With her back to him, Robert never takes his eyes off her. She turns and crosses to him, with the tea.)

ROBERT (cont'd) Thanks.
(Francesca smiles and sips her own. She watches him gulp down the tea so fast, some of it dribbles down the side of his face and neck. Francesca finds it sexy. He empties it.)

FRANCESCA Would you like another one?

(Robert nods and he pulls out his cigarettes.)

ROBERT Mind if I smoke?
FRANCESCA (at the sink) Not at all.

(Robert lights up as he watches her fix another iced tea. He watches her slip off one boot, then the other -- never missing a beat of her preparation. He can't help eyeing her body. When she returns, she also has the flowers he picked for her arranged in a Casper the Friendly Ghost jelly glass. She places them on the table and sits.)

ROBERT Sure you want to keep those in the house?
FRANCESCA I'm so sorry about that. It was rude. I think I just got nervous for some reason.
ROBERT I thought it was funny.

(She likes that.)

FRANCESCA Where are you staying while you're here?
ROBERT A little place with cabins. The something-Motor Inn. I haven't checked in yet.

FRANCESCA And how long are you here for?
ROBERT As long as it takes, I might stay a week. No more I don't think. Where's your family?
FRANCESCA My husband took the kids to the Illinos State Fair. My daughter's entering a prize steer.
ROBERT Oh. How old?
FRANCESCA About a year and a half.
ROBERT No, your kids.
FRANCESCA Oh. Michael's 17 and Carolyn's 16.
ROBERT Must be nice having kids.

(Francesca looks at him and FANTASIZES SAYING:)

FANTASY:

FRANCESCA Not any more. It's awful. They're awful. I can't stand them.

END OF FANTASY:

(But in reality, Francesca chooses instead to say?
FRANCESCA (cont'd) They're not kids anymore. Things change.

ROBERT Everything does. One of the laws of nature. People are always so afraid of change. But if you look at it like it's something you can count on happening, it's actually a comfort. Not many things you can count on for sure.
FRANCESCA I guess. Except I'm one of the people it frightens.
ROBERT I doubt that.
FRANCESCA Why?
ROBERT Italy to Iowa? I'd call that a change.
FRANCESCA (explaining) Richard was in the army. I met him while I was living in Naples. I didn't know where Iowa was. I only cared that it was America. And of course, being with Richard.

ROBERT What's he like?

(As Francesca thinks of an answer, she looks over to the entranceway between the kitchen and the front hall and sees:)

FANTASY:

(Richard standing there in his underwear, reaching over his shoulder.)

RICHARD Franny, could you clean out my boil again?

END OF FANTASY:

(Francesca answers Robert, half of her still in fantasy --)

FRANCESCA He's very... clean.
ROBERT Clean?
FRANCESCA (catching herself) No. I mean yes, he's clean but he's also other things. He's a very hard worker. Very honest. Very caring.Gentle. Good father.
ROBERT And clean.
FRANCESCA Yes. Very clean.

(They drink. Francesca thinks she sounds like an idiot.)

ROBERT So you must like Iowa, I guess.

(Francesca looks at him. She wants to tell the truth, but holds back.)
FRANCESCA It's... uh... uh...

(She stops. Robert smiles.)
ROBERT Go ahead. I won't tell anyone.

(Surprised, Francesca looks at him oddly -- as if he already knows and is giving her permission.)

FRANCESCA It's...(tries again) I...(finally) I hate it!
(She covers her mouth, like a reflex -- worried someone heard. Robert just smiles and nods.)

(Francesca is so taken by his understanding and acceptance, she lets the flood gates open, speaking faster than her mind can keep up --)

FRANCESCA (cont'd) (without a pause) I hate it! I hate it! I HATE IT! I hate the corn and the dust and the town and the cows and that SMELL that you love! I hate the people. Everybody knows everybody's business, I mean it's nice now and then, they're always there to help out, but that's just it, it's like they're waiting for something awful to happen to help out and when nothing awful is happening, then they just sit around and talk about what is happening which is none of their business. I want to kill them sometimes for how cruel they can be --

(Camera begins slowly moving out to a wider angle...)

FRANCESCA (cont'd) -- everybody's talking about poor Mrs. Delaney whose husband is having an affair with that Redfield woman and "isn't it a shame," and "isn't it awful," and the truth is THEY'RE LOVING IT! Poor woman can't even be cheated on without the grocery man knowing about it -- no one respects anyone's privacy. You're not even safe in your own home! They think they can just walk right into your house because they BAKED you something. It's like they have a secret password and YOU CAN'T KEEP THEM OUT! I live in fear of that door opening and having a peach cobbler shoved at me...

(Throughout this rapid fire monologue, camera has moved to a wide angle as Robert just sits and listens, letting her get it all off her chest.)

Useful lanuage items:

One of the laws of nature. 自然规律之一。Back

Francesca is so taken by his understanding and acceptance. Francesca 深受他的理解和接受而感动。 Back

none of one's business 跟某人无关。 Back

have an affair with somebody 此处指 跟某人有男女关系。 Back

fire monologue 此处指女主人公火山爆发般的一段独白。Back

get off one's chest 解除心头的郁闷、重负等。Back